Castlewood offers two clear starting points for a stay: the history of Russell County and day use on the Clinch River. The Old Russell County Courthouse and the Dickenson Bundy Log House are on the same grounds; the Old Castlewood Launch is a public boat launch on the river. If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Castlewood, you can shape your stay around whether you want to focus on historic architecture and government history or access to the water.
County History at the Courthouse
The Old Russell County Courthouse was built in 1799 as Russell County’s second courthouse. It replaced the first courthouse, which had been destroyed by fire. The building served the county until the seat of government was moved to Lebanon in 1818. The dates mark two distinct stages: the construction of the second courthouse in 1799 and the end of its role as the seat of government in 1818. The stone building and brick addition have been carefully restored to house a museum. The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Virginia Landmark. Its grounds also include a covered picnic area for picnics and family gatherings.
The Dickenson Bundy Log House
The Dickenson Bundy Log House is on the same grounds. It was formed from two separate log cabins: one was built in 1769, the other in 1790. These dates refer to the two original structures, not to a single shared construction year for the later house. What began as a windowless, one-room cabin became a two-story, five-room house with windows. The original builders of the Dickenson House built in 1769, Henry Dickenson Jr. and Mary Powell Dickenson, were driven from their home to a fort in Abingdon. The building history and the story of its builders each give the house its own historical significance.
The LOVEwork is on the Courthouse and Log House grounds and invites visitors to stop by and take a souvenir photo. Local crafts are sold in the Dickenson Bundy Log House; the selection may vary.
Day Use on the Clinch River
The Old Castlewood Launch is a public boat launch on the Clinch River for day use. Its address is 206 Luttie Banner Drive, Castlewood, Virginia. Amenities include parking, a portable restroom, picnic tables, and a picnic shelter. The shelter is available on a “first come, first served” basis. Boat access and picnic facilities are therefore part of the same day-use site. Amenities may change, so check current conditions at the site before your trip, especially if you’re planning around specific facilities.
The dates are easy to distinguish: 1799 marks the construction of the second courthouse, while 1818 marks the move of the seat of government. For the Log House, 1769 and 1790 refer to two different original structures. The shared historic grounds thus bring together government and architectural history, while the launch offers a different focus on day use by the water.
Discover more destinations: Honaker.
View the broader travel overview: Russell.
